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Dec 7, 2012
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even the best case if we don't take action, you have a long-term growth crisis. why do i say that? what does it take for us to grow? it takes investments in the future. it takes investment in equipment and science education and infrastructure and so forth. the question many people don't want to consider is when we get those resources? i asked our research department of the would make a prediction from important the interest costs would be if we did nothing and the estimate without any explosion will was as follows. within 25 years or so, our interest costs would jump from about 1% of gdp to 12% of gdp or roughly four times the total investment made in r&d r&d fer, science jaish infrastructure. and if we ever permit that to happen, we will assure that we are going to have what i call a slow-growth crisis. please take over, this is your meeting. >> one thing i don't plan to be is an economics expert. i felt this way for years it's not just about the health of our economy, it's about around the world it's going to continue to eat at us and when you put in the kind of time bombs of was
even the best case if we don't take action, you have a long-term growth crisis. why do i say that? what does it take for us to grow? it takes investments in the future. it takes investment in equipment and science education and infrastructure and so forth. the question many people don't want to consider is when we get those resources? i asked our research department of the would make a prediction from important the interest costs would be if we did nothing and the estimate without any explosion...
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Dec 10, 2012
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and i would say, the actions today in the late. for example, you worry about their stock of 20% low enriched uranium. they are being pressed clearly, by israel statement to keep the stock below a certain amount. and they may do that. they may decide that, okay, it's not worth the risk to keep letting that stock grow and grow and grow. if they let it grow and grow and grow and they can break up more quickly. i think, again, a lot depends on all we do. >> let's talk a little bit about what we can do. i wanted to ask you. president obama has made it clear the policy of his administration is to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. there's a lot of talk in the town, maybe too much talk about the policy of containment or deterrence. can you tell us why the containment or deterrence? >> sure. the three major reasons you can't rely on deterrent for detainment. first of all, the possibility that a runs nuclear bombs might be used, either because the regime itself is messianic to be under terrible or because rogue elements get ahold
and i would say, the actions today in the late. for example, you worry about their stock of 20% low enriched uranium. they are being pressed clearly, by israel statement to keep the stock below a certain amount. and they may do that. they may decide that, okay, it's not worth the risk to keep letting that stock grow and grow and grow. if they let it grow and grow and grow and they can break up more quickly. i think, again, a lot depends on all we do. >> let's talk a little bit about what...
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Dec 6, 2012
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that action alone we believe has saves the fha fund $12 billion. there are additional actions we have taken, we raise premiums four times, major underwriting changes that includes raising down payments for the riskiest borrowers. that series of changes has added we estimates $20 billion to the value of the funds. quite simply if we had not taken those actions in partnership with you we would find ourselves in a vastly worse position today for the fha fund. >> mr. secretary, you have detailed several steps that would stabilize fha's finances. given the condition of the fha's old books of business why weren't these changes made further? will these changes allow the fha to -- this year and avoid drawing funds from the treasury? >> as i said in the testimony, we need to draw at the end of the fiscal year. what i can say is i believe we are taking all appropriate steps to try to of lloyd that, balancing the health of the funds but also the fragile recovery that we have into the market. for example, we have already moved to increase premiums for the fift
that action alone we believe has saves the fha fund $12 billion. there are additional actions we have taken, we raise premiums four times, major underwriting changes that includes raising down payments for the riskiest borrowers. that series of changes has added we estimates $20 billion to the value of the funds. quite simply if we had not taken those actions in partnership with you we would find ourselves in a vastly worse position today for the fha fund. >> mr. secretary, you have...
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Dec 5, 2012
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we also have the tools in place to be able to take further action. so what i said earlier i think is absolutely true. this is the end of a chapter of u.s. leadership. i can tell you when senator jackson and congressman vanik suggested the use of trade as a leverage to block trade with countries, that they didn't respect a basic human right of allowing their people to leave. there were many people saying why are you doing that? can't we just talk it out? that bill produced incredible results not only on the people, the individuals who were able to leave the soviet union, but it spoke to america's leadership. i honestly believe that it helped establish the principles where the united states used trade to open up and eliminate the apartheid government of south africa. we were the leaders on that. we had been very strong on protecting human rights and saying yes, we'll use every tool at our disposal to protect people's basic rights. we did that in south africa. we did that in the soviet union, and we're doing it again today. that's where america's leader
we also have the tools in place to be able to take further action. so what i said earlier i think is absolutely true. this is the end of a chapter of u.s. leadership. i can tell you when senator jackson and congressman vanik suggested the use of trade as a leverage to block trade with countries, that they didn't respect a basic human right of allowing their people to leave. there were many people saying why are you doing that? can't we just talk it out? that bill produced incredible results not...
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Dec 19, 2012
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you can also follow the action on twitter using #npclunch. after the speech concludes we will have a q&a and i velazquez many questions as time permits. now i would like to introduce the head table guest, and i ask each of you here to stand up briefly as your name is announced. from your right, jim michaels, defense correspondent for usa today. maryland, national public radio. camille, defense department producer al jazeera english. josh rogen, staff writer, foreign policy magazine. george little, defense secretary of special assistance for public affairs. managing editor of "the washington post." dr. ashton carter, deputy secretary of defense. allyson fitzgerald, a freelance journalist and the chairwoman of the speaker's committee. i'm going to speak this -- skip the speaker for a minute. adana, reporter for usa today and past president of the national press club and speakers' committee organized today's luncheon. dr. jim miller, undersecretary of the defense policy. larry moffey editing manager army magazine. john, past president of the nat
you can also follow the action on twitter using #npclunch. after the speech concludes we will have a q&a and i velazquez many questions as time permits. now i would like to introduce the head table guest, and i ask each of you here to stand up briefly as your name is announced. from your right, jim michaels, defense correspondent for usa today. maryland, national public radio. camille, defense department producer al jazeera english. josh rogen, staff writer, foreign policy magazine. george...
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Dec 13, 2012
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once again, i believe this is an irresponsible action. i hope congress will get beyond it. but of course a third way in which the functioning of the senate -- not the full congress, but the senate -- has worsened is the abuse of senate rules allowing unlimited debate or filibusters. as the senate currently operates, the threat of filibuster is used routinely to obstruct the senate from doing its business. even when the issue before the senate is relatively uncontroversial. many times following a delay caused by obstruction, an overwhelming number of senators will vote for the legislation or the nomination, which the senate has been delayed in considering. in the next congress i strongly encourage my colleagues to make the necessary changes in senate rules to limit the ability of one or a few senators to obstruct the senate from doing its regular business. my colleague, senator udall, is here on the floor with me. he's been a leader in this effort to get these rules changed, and i commend him for that. so the record of our progress both as a country and as a congress over th
once again, i believe this is an irresponsible action. i hope congress will get beyond it. but of course a third way in which the functioning of the senate -- not the full congress, but the senate -- has worsened is the abuse of senate rules allowing unlimited debate or filibusters. as the senate currently operates, the threat of filibuster is used routinely to obstruct the senate from doing its business. even when the issue before the senate is relatively uncontroversial. many times following...
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Dec 27, 2012
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when national security is at stake, leadership demands action. serious security risks put american lives at date. in my view, decision-makers who chose not to provide that security demonstrated not only irresponsibility, but willful misconduct and they should be held accountable. mr. burns, u.s. or earlier before we had to take her break that we were using every available resource in the state department to get answers to these questions. you know, the state department can't even muster the resources to free an american veteran being hollowed in mexico against his will. i have little optimism that the state department will achieve positive results on bringing the murderers to justice a killer ambassador and his staff. i respect you are here, but i want decision-makers in front of this congress to answer to the american people on why we've got for dead americans. >> congressman, let me say a couple things. first with regard bringing to justice those responsible for the murders, what i said if every resource that the u.s. government, not just the s
when national security is at stake, leadership demands action. serious security risks put american lives at date. in my view, decision-makers who chose not to provide that security demonstrated not only irresponsibility, but willful misconduct and they should be held accountable. mr. burns, u.s. or earlier before we had to take her break that we were using every available resource in the state department to get answers to these questions. you know, the state department can't even muster the...
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Dec 12, 2012
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and it is a legacy of action, not just of words as we have heard today, but action. and achievement. he's been a steadfast supporter of family planning and a woman's right to choose, raising awareness and garnering commitment of congressional colleagues for that cause. he has been a champion of equality and justice, exemplified, for example, in his advocacy of repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." he's been a leader on environmental conservation as attorney general of our state, as well as in this body. especially in the fight to protect long island sound, a treasure of connecticut and the entire nation. and he was a leader in bringing to this chamber, to the floor, one of the first bills on climate change. his legacy will live on in these efforts. the clean air and water that he's helped to protect, the urgency with which he's fought to protect our natural treasures in connecticut and around the country. and his spirit of environmental stewardship that will inspire generations to come. and that ideal of stewardship is also articulated by his remarks here, the stewardsh
and it is a legacy of action, not just of words as we have heard today, but action. and achievement. he's been a steadfast supporter of family planning and a woman's right to choose, raising awareness and garnering commitment of congressional colleagues for that cause. he has been a champion of equality and justice, exemplified, for example, in his advocacy of repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." he's been a leader on environmental conservation as attorney general of our state, as well...
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Dec 7, 2012
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i like the phrase of action intellectual. he produced some really tough work that informs policy, and you have also been very effective advocates. secondly, i am really honored to be receiving this award in the name of jean kirkpatrick. another independent democrat. so independent she became a republican. i don't know. she was an inspiration to watch at the u.n., and a real honor to accept this award which my colleague and your friend, john kyl, who is the model of what a public servant should be. he works very hard. he was gifted with some prices start out with, but he really uses them. and he is thoughtful and in this extremely almost reflexively the combative political climate he happens to be a gentleman. and that matters. it has been my honor really to work with him over many issues of common interest of the years. i look forward to continuing it. one of our senate colleagues calls it the afterlife. but for today and will just say that i am therefore tripoli honored to receive this award from the fdd in the name of jean
i like the phrase of action intellectual. he produced some really tough work that informs policy, and you have also been very effective advocates. secondly, i am really honored to be receiving this award in the name of jean kirkpatrick. another independent democrat. so independent she became a republican. i don't know. she was an inspiration to watch at the u.n., and a real honor to accept this award which my colleague and your friend, john kyl, who is the model of what a public servant should...
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Dec 20, 2012
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their focus was on being as factual as possible and the focus was on action. and you have to remember, sir, this time there were mobs coming over the walls of our embassy in cairo, tunis, and that was what people were focused on. and so the initial inaccuracies, because just as the arab report points out, there were no protest before the attack took place. it took several days for the intelligence community to conclude definitively that there were not any protests and that there were -- >> we are running out of time and i want to give the ambassador and opportunity respond. >> actually have run out of time. spent specifically, the report from the cia reference al qaeda and terrorist. that's specific to you can't get any more specific than that. so i will get your response, if you have time, mr. nye, give him time to respond if not he can respond for the record spent on trying to honor other senators who want to get to the daniel inouye ceremony. i think we have time. >> i concur with secretary burns comments, and they do think that in the agency was operating
their focus was on being as factual as possible and the focus was on action. and you have to remember, sir, this time there were mobs coming over the walls of our embassy in cairo, tunis, and that was what people were focused on. and so the initial inaccuracies, because just as the arab report points out, there were no protest before the attack took place. it took several days for the intelligence community to conclude definitively that there were not any protests and that there were --...
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Dec 5, 2012
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i've been an action of this action for many years and obviously the fact that it is tied to this bill i think is important. i'm proud the senate is on the way to clearing the way for normal trade relations between the united states and moldova. that country has taken great strides towards democratic and economic reform and i believe this is a vote of confidence in moldova's economic and reform and in support of its democratic fu -- future. could i say to my three colleagues on the floor here. there are times when we do a lot of things for the people we represent and a lot of things for the country. i think that what we are doing here, which will be rapidly approved -- it's already been aver proved by the house and will be made into law -- is something that we are doing for people in russia who need our help now, need our voice, who need our commitment. the great and wonderful ideas and promise and prospect after the fall of the soviet union that was the case of russia, many of those hopes have been dashed. maybe we should take responsibility for not playing a more constructive role in
i've been an action of this action for many years and obviously the fact that it is tied to this bill i think is important. i'm proud the senate is on the way to clearing the way for normal trade relations between the united states and moldova. that country has taken great strides towards democratic and economic reform and i believe this is a vote of confidence in moldova's economic and reform and in support of its democratic fu -- future. could i say to my three colleagues on the floor here....
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Dec 28, 2012
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has to be taken by the time you take extraordinary action. and so, lamar and i recognize that and we also recognize that the big issues of the nation today the average family pays over the lifetime $119,000 in the medicare program. the members of a family working over their lifetime will pay into medicare $119,000 in today's. that same family today takes out of medicare $357,000. basically americans today are paying about one third of the true cost of medicare. lamar recognizes and i recognize that and we recognize that basically both parties are hiding from americans the true cost of government and that's really why we don't have as much of a constituency here to solve this problem but we know that it has to be solved and so what we are hoping is going to occur is after we deal with the issue most americans are not fantasy the tax rate rise as it is going to happen over the next couple of days or weeks, but we know that is going to be the outcome and i think all of you know that asquint be the outcome, but we hope that then we will turn to t
has to be taken by the time you take extraordinary action. and so, lamar and i recognize that and we also recognize that the big issues of the nation today the average family pays over the lifetime $119,000 in the medicare program. the members of a family working over their lifetime will pay into medicare $119,000 in today's. that same family today takes out of medicare $357,000. basically americans today are paying about one third of the true cost of medicare. lamar recognizes and i recognize...
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Dec 6, 2012
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his actions are guided by deeply held principles and aimed toward progress. he has demonstrated his willingness time and again to risk his political career to do what he believes is right for america. joe brings the same dedication to everything he does. working with him on the armed services committee, i know firsthand how devoted he is to our men and women in uniform, and the deep respect he has for their service and their sacrifice. his leadership in bringing about the repeal of the discriminatory don't ask, don't tell law was nothing short of extraordinary, and it gives me great personal pride to have assisted him in achieving that important victory for justice. and it was vintage joe lieberman. he did what was right. he never gave up. and he got the job done. throughout his many years of dedicated service, joe has demonstrated the kind of character that america needs and that the american people deserve. it is not by coincidence that the power points slide show that i present to students throughout maine include a photograph of senator joe lieberman at w
his actions are guided by deeply held principles and aimed toward progress. he has demonstrated his willingness time and again to risk his political career to do what he believes is right for america. joe brings the same dedication to everything he does. working with him on the armed services committee, i know firsthand how devoted he is to our men and women in uniform, and the deep respect he has for their service and their sacrifice. his leadership in bringing about the repeal of the...
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Dec 4, 2012
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many other mischievous actions will certainly arise to bedevil our country and we'll have hypocritical meddlers complicating our internal efforts and our internal social and health policies. i don't think this is necessary. i agree that the united states and the world can do more to advance the cause of the disabled. i truly do. i recently visited the very fine alabama school for deaf and blind. i personally saw how inexpensive computers can transform the lives of the disabled. deaf and blind can move from being disconnected to connected, from unemployed to highly productive. it was such a moving and positive experience to see what can be done today with the technology this world has. when one visits our magnificent military hospital at walter reed national military medical center, we can see the devices that are used there on a regular basis to make the lives of those who have been injured better. the whole world will benefit if more of this technology is made available and more skill is made available. so the right way, i think, to advance assistance for the disabled worldwide is to
many other mischievous actions will certainly arise to bedevil our country and we'll have hypocritical meddlers complicating our internal efforts and our internal social and health policies. i don't think this is necessary. i agree that the united states and the world can do more to advance the cause of the disabled. i truly do. i recently visited the very fine alabama school for deaf and blind. i personally saw how inexpensive computers can transform the lives of the disabled. deaf and blind...
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Dec 27, 2012
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why in the world do we not require the intelligence community to be accountable to us for its actions? it's our responsibility in congress to hold the entire executive branch accountable. if we do not ask these questions, we're simply not doing our job. and that's true whether it's president obama or president bush or some other president. i hope we can adopt the wyden amendment to improve the reporting requirements of the fisa act. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. with that, i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the senator from indiana. mr. coats: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 1, for the purpose of calling up and debating the coats amendment. that following the remarks of senator coats, senator alexander be recognized, that the senate resume consideration of the fisa bill h.r. 5949 after that and all that provisions -- and that all provisions of the previous orders remain in effect. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the clerk will report. mr. coats: i'd like to call -- the
why in the world do we not require the intelligence community to be accountable to us for its actions? it's our responsibility in congress to hold the entire executive branch accountable. if we do not ask these questions, we're simply not doing our job. and that's true whether it's president obama or president bush or some other president. i hope we can adopt the wyden amendment to improve the reporting requirements of the fisa act. i urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment....
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Dec 19, 2012
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as congress sleepwalks, americans actually be taking action on their own. in coordination with the nonprofit organization 350.org for example, students at more than 150 colleges and yoofortsd across the country -- universities across the country are pressing those institutions to sell off the portions of their endowment portfolios invested in fossil fuel companies. they are forcing schools to divest from the polluters. this type of divestment campaign was deployed effectively to pull investments from south africa during apartheid. with american college and university endowments estimated to total more than $400 billion this movement by students deserves significant attention. here in the senate, key legislation such as the water resources development act must reflect the reality that our climate are changing, that we need to prepare for these changes. we should take direct legislative action to mitigate climate change and we should defend the administration's carbon pollution standards which will require new appedz existing power plants to clean up their sm
as congress sleepwalks, americans actually be taking action on their own. in coordination with the nonprofit organization 350.org for example, students at more than 150 colleges and yoofortsd across the country -- universities across the country are pressing those institutions to sell off the portions of their endowment portfolios invested in fossil fuel companies. they are forcing schools to divest from the polluters. this type of divestment campaign was deployed effectively to pull...
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Dec 19, 2012
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the action is still to come. and, mr. president, i look forward to working with you and my colleagues in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that this time we act. the victims of newtown, connecticut, deserve nothing less. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont is recognized. mr. leahy: mr. president, i ask consent the call of the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: mr. president, i know we have senators who talked about bringing amendments to the floor. i wish and i know the distinguished majority leader is trying to get a finite list and a time to vote on it. i would hope that can be done. i would hope the senators who have amendments will bring them up, debate them and vote them up or down so we can get on with this bill. if you're a person whose home has been devastated or your children's school has
the action is still to come. and, mr. president, i look forward to working with you and my colleagues in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that this time we act. the victims of newtown, connecticut, deserve nothing less. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont is recognized. mr. leahy: mr. president, i ask consent the...
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Dec 18, 2012
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it was actions. his life gave meaning, and that might be one of the highest compliments that anyone can achieve in this life. we all know his extraordinary service in so many different ways. we know also in one of the great coincidences that three young men were in a michigan veterans administration hospital -- dan inouye, phil hart and bob dole, american heroes, and that later they would come to this senate and serve with distinction. i think it was particularly meaningful that just a few days ago, senator robert dole, another great american, was on the floor of this senate still serving, still emblematic of the greatest generation. we will miss him. there are few words and not enough eloquence to describe the loss. i do particularly want to thank and extend my condolences to his wife irene, to his son ken, to his daughter-in-law jessica, to his granddaughter maggie and his stepdaughter jennifer hirano. they have lost more than any of us because they have lost a husband, a father and a grandfather.
it was actions. his life gave meaning, and that might be one of the highest compliments that anyone can achieve in this life. we all know his extraordinary service in so many different ways. we know also in one of the great coincidences that three young men were in a michigan veterans administration hospital -- dan inouye, phil hart and bob dole, american heroes, and that later they would come to this senate and serve with distinction. i think it was particularly meaningful that just a few days...
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Dec 11, 2012
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that is where the action is. that is where the money is. . . and 2012. i am for continuing that could i think it would put money directly in the pockets of working families. i think that actually could help the economy. i'm very enthusiastic however that more spending through the measures enacted in 2009 would do much good. i don't think they did much good last time around. >> host: >> guest: i think a one-year deferral would be okay if the package looks good. i think the stimulus of $50 billion is a great idea, and the reason is because we still have the unemployment rate at 7.7%. which is very high by historical standards. the recovery is very fragile. they start raising revenue and cutting spending right now in a major way and do it in 2013 as opposed to doing it, but doing it more gradually and giving the economy a chance to recover that's not going to be good, and i really think we have to remember it isn't just our debt and deficit we have to worry about, it's the economy and if you want to create jobs, then we don't want to ratchet down with the g
that is where the action is. that is where the money is. . . and 2012. i am for continuing that could i think it would put money directly in the pockets of working families. i think that actually could help the economy. i'm very enthusiastic however that more spending through the measures enacted in 2009 would do much good. i don't think they did much good last time around. >> host: >> guest: i think a one-year deferral would be okay if the package looks good. i think the stimulus...
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Dec 21, 2012
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as i'll show on a chart later, you can measure this in part by the action on appropriations bills. we have an expectation of, it used to be 13 appropriations bills. now it's 12. in the last two years we've done exactly one. one out of 24. totally unacceptable in terms of this chamber fulfilling its responsibility just in that one area of appropriations, decisions about how to spend moneys in different parts of the government. i know when meme hear this word -- when people hear this word "filibuster" they don't think of simply a silent objection. yet that is what it is in the rules, a silent objection to the simple majority. they think of someone taking the floor right here and making their case on an issue of deep principle or deep concern to their state. and they might be thinking a little bit about a picture that looks a little like this. this is that famous scene from "mr. smith goes to washington." jimmy stewart is on the floor. he talks through the night, making his case. and he is fighting for fairness and justice in the face of corruption. that's what people think of when th
as i'll show on a chart later, you can measure this in part by the action on appropriations bills. we have an expectation of, it used to be 13 appropriations bills. now it's 12. in the last two years we've done exactly one. one out of 24. totally unacceptable in terms of this chamber fulfilling its responsibility just in that one area of appropriations, decisions about how to spend moneys in different parts of the government. i know when meme hear this word -- when people hear this word...
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Dec 11, 2012
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so, can you tell us if they have taken all appropriate action to ensure that these projects finally get underway? and what else would need to be done? >> well, i think it was, one thing we report -- we point out is it was very important that the fra, and we thought was a great thing that they did to require the agreements to be reached before the funds were obligated. it's those agreements that ultimately ensured that the federal investment that is being made is actually going to achieve the results that were intended to be achieved. that being said, again this thing a brand-new program and these funds that need to be ultimately dispersed by september 2017, which may seem a long time from now time from now but these are very complex projects, and the fact that a lot of these negotiating of these agreements, we are almost four years beyond the time that it was originally passed, it's just a concern surrounding the fact that getting these projects going and completed, getting beyond, you know, completing these agreements. it's important these agreements be met as mr. hamberger stated. the
so, can you tell us if they have taken all appropriate action to ensure that these projects finally get underway? and what else would need to be done? >> well, i think it was, one thing we report -- we point out is it was very important that the fra, and we thought was a great thing that they did to require the agreements to be reached before the funds were obligated. it's those agreements that ultimately ensured that the federal investment that is being made is actually going to achieve...
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Dec 21, 2012
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they expect action. so let me be very poignant. there is nothing preventing the speaker from taking up our bill and giving middle-class families certainty. so i say to my friend, the speaker, this isn't a game, it is not scoring political points or putting wins on the board. there will be very serious consequences for millions of families if congress fails to compromise. there will be very serious consequences for our country if congress fails to compromise. it's time for the speaker to return to the negotiating table ready to compromise. it's time for the house, especially the house republicans, to remember what's at stake. i repeat -- the $250,000 program would pass overwhelmingly in the house. it's up to the species to let that vote occur. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: most people are focused, of course, today on what happened over in the house. i'd like to focus on a press conference that congressional democrats held just a few hours earlier. here were the leaders of
they expect action. so let me be very poignant. there is nothing preventing the speaker from taking up our bill and giving middle-class families certainty. so i say to my friend, the speaker, this isn't a game, it is not scoring political points or putting wins on the board. there will be very serious consequences for millions of families if congress fails to compromise. there will be very serious consequences for our country if congress fails to compromise. it's time for the speaker to return...